Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

straight and narrow

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.30 in modern English

Syllables: straight and -nar-row
IPA

25

Scrabble Score

17

Letters

3

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A path of honesty; a procedure according to rules and plans.

Example Sentences

"The project would seriously go down the pan if Mrs. Foster weren't here to keep it on the straight and narrow."

Etymology

Probably "strait and narrow," from Matthew 7:14.

Inflected Forms

strait and narrow (alternative)

Phrases

walk in straight lines

Frequently Paired Words

walk in straight lines

Synonyms

strait and narrow

Questions

What does straight and narrow mean?: A path of honesty; a procedure according to rules and plans.
Where does straight and narrow come from?: Probably "strait and narrow," from Matthew 7:14.

How to pronounce straight and narrow

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “straight and narrow”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “straight and narrow”.
Repeat and practice — Say “straight and narrow” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.